#gretavanfleet

“Oh I get it,” Danny said flirtatiously as he stepped into the bathroom. “You were just waiting for me to get a clue,” he continued, tugging at the hem of his t-shirt up over his belly. He stopped immediately when he saw your buckled form at the base of the shower. You had let the water run for more than twenty minutes, hoping the warmth of the shower would pull you out of the all-encompassing despair that had taken over. It did nothing to ease the feeling. 

“Oh Honey,” Danny’s tone shifted tenderly as he stepped into the tub, the shower pasting his clothes to his body. He sat behind you in the tub and folded his body around yours in a shield of emotional warmth. “What’s goin’ on?” He asked, pulling the curtain of wet hair from your face. “Darling, what’s the matter?” He asked, leaning in to place a tentative kiss on your wet cheek. “I’m here, baby.”

He eventually coaxed you out of your silence. “Just a bad day. A really, really bad day,” you confessed. “I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

Danny squeezed you ever so slightly in his arms. “I don’t need an explanation to know that you just need some love right now,” he murmured quietly, leaning forward to kiss your shoulder. 

“I’m not in the mood for anything—you know,” you continued. 

“That’s not my motive, sweetheart.” His hands smoothed over your wet skin, massaging and soothing your visceral discontent. “You know you’re my best friend too, right? Not just my lover.”

You turned over your shoulder and smiled up at him. “Mine too.” A crystalline tear slipped from your lids, and though you expected the shower would conceal it, he still saw it. 

“I love you, Y/n,” he spoke softly, his flattened curls dripping over the expanse of his face. “I’m always here for you.” 

He really was a beautiful soul. You took a silent moment to fully appreciate how lucky you were to find a man so sure of himself, and equally beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside. 

“I love you so much, Danny. Thank you.” Your voice was weak and tired, but you’d never spoken more truth in your entire life. You truly loved him and could count on him for anything. 

“I say,” he began, leaning forward to turn the water off, “we get up out of here, dry off, and watch a movie. Even if we don’t watch it, I wanna be right here with you, just preferably dry.” You chuckled at that. 

“Stay put and I’ll grab us a towel.” You watched as he got up and stepped out of the tub, his clothes sagging and dripping onto the tile floor. It was undeniably sexy to see a man care more for you than he cared about himself. Moments later he returned wrapped in a towel and had one in tow for you. “Come here, baby,” he beckoned.

—

“What movie should we watch?” Danny asked while cradling you in his gigantic Lovesac beanbag. 

“One of your nerdy ones,” you told him, already taking handfuls of popcorn in your mouth. “I just want to hear your voice telling me everything there is to know about the movie. I can’t promise I’ll stay awake through the entire thing, either.”

“Lord of the Rings it is,” he decided, selecting the first movie of the series. You spent the rest of the evening nestled against the solid warmth of Danny’s chest while his fingertips drew aimless shapes into the curve of your back. He was your solitude, without a doubt.

“Come on,” he whispered after a long while, pulling your body into his strong arms. “It’s time for bed,” he spoke, stepping through the house. 

“Not if you aren’t sleepy,” you slurred. 

“I am, but if I wasn’t, I’d just watch you sleep,” He explained. 

“Mm,” you hummed. “Creepy,” you smirked sleepily. 

His laugh felt like an instant dopamine release as he placed you into bed and tucked you in. Before long, he was right there again, a warm cocoon of sanctity. “I love you, Danny,” was the final thing you told him before slumber took you under its care.  

“I love you too, y/n. The only woman I’ve ever truly loved,” he replied, kissing the top of your head before beckoning sleep to help find you again in his dreams.

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